Two former Alleghany County firefighters have agreed to serve jail time for deliberately setting fires to two empty houses in Botetourt County.

Nicholas S. Brackenridge, 21, of Clifton Forge and Christopher Scott Boyd, 19, of Iron Gate had been scheduled to be tried today in Botetourt County Circuit Court on charges of arson and conspiracy to commit arson. Instead, the two signed plea agreements last week.

Each agreed Thursday to enter pleas to two counts of arson in exchange for a sentence of four years in prison, with the remaining time suspended after they serve a 30-day jail sentence. Brackenridge pleaded guilty. Boyd pleaded no contest.

Under the agreement, the two men are also jointly responsible for paying $31,400 in restitution to the property owners, Botetourt County Commonwealth's Attorney Joel Branscom said.

The investigation started in Alleghany County, where the two men were arrested Dec. 18 and charged with arson. Investigators with the Alleghany County Sheriff's Office accused Boyd and Brackenridge of setting an Oct. 16 fire and believed that fire was linked to seven other arsons, including homes set afire in Botetourt County on Nov. 13 and Dec. 12. A Botetourt County grand jury indicted both men in March in connection with those fires.

Brackenridge was a member of the Clifton Forge Volunteer Fire Department. Boyd was a volunteer with the Iron Gate Volunteer Fire Department.

Authorities believe the men were setting the fires so that they could then be part of the fire crew that responded to the blazes and get practice fighting fires, Branscom said.

In Alleghany County, the two men each entered pleas in June to two counts of arson and one count of conspiracy to commit arson, in exchange for sentences that do not involve any incarceration.

Boyd has been found guilty of those charges. A judge has yet to rule on Brackenridge's guilt, and prosecutors and defense have not yet agreed on how much restitution he should pay.

Brackenridge's attorney, Dabney Pasco, declined to comment Monday. Boyd's attorney, William Parks, could not be reached for comment.

Alleghany County authorities have said a third person was involved with the arsons in that locality. He was 17 at the time and was a junior firefighter at the Iron Gate department. Authorities have not publicly identified him.

It is unclear where the teenager's case stands. Alleghany County Commonwealth's Attorney Ed Stein could not be reached for comment Monday afternoon.

Branscom said there was no evidence that the teenager was involved in the Botetourt County fires.